"The Apprentice" long con persists today, even beyond its host's many convictions

Fun though it may be to pretend Fox News host Jeanine Pirro guzzles a box of wine before “The Five” cameras go live, on Thursday’s episode she was soberly carrying her Orange Leader’s water. “The Apprentice” con continues through right-wing pundits currying Trump's favor by casting him as Goliath and David in one flesh, battling a justice system specifically weaponized against him. When first season “Apprentice” judge Carolyn Kepcher strongly advocated for Jackson to win, Pruitt recalls Trump saying, “Yeah, but, I mean, would America buy a winning?” Adding a new spike to this long railroad track is Pruitt’s verification that this and other conversations between Trump and his advisers with producers present were recorded. On Thursday Pruitt’s insights further illuminated the rot at the core of sycophantic verdict reaction posts from the likes of Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. Scott, who invoked America’s “two-tier justice system” and accused Joe Biden of “weaponizing the justice system of the United States of America against a political opponent.” The hush money trial is related to state charges, not federal – but Scott and others know Trump’s fandom doesn't care. We need your help to stay independent Subscribe today to support Salon's progressive journalism As MSNBC’s Joy Reid brought up Thursday, mentioning Scott alongside Marco Rubio, R.-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., “They know damn well, who normally ends up at the bottom of this criminal justice system.” She went on to offer, “They understand fully because they have lived in the bodies of Black men, those two Black men.